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rachelbrooks.bsky.social
Rachel Brooks
@rachelbrooks.bsky.social
2.5K followers 1K following 130 posts

Professor of Higher Education, University of Oxford | President, British Sociological Association | Editor, British Journal of Sociology of Education

Videos
Political science 39%
Education 36%
Posts Replies Media Videos

Reposted by Rachel Brooks, Dave O’Brien

cghe.bsky.social
CGHE @cghe.bsky.social · 15d
@rachelbrooks.bsky.social: “Despite a lot of policy activity, HE has not led to widespread increases in social mobility. While, for students from disadvantaged backgrounds, HE does lead to improved outcomes relative to non-graduate peers, family background continues to exert significant influence.

Reposted by Rachel Brooks, Dave O’Brien

cghe.bsky.social
CGHE @cghe.bsky.social · 15d
🔈New research: Despite significant efforts to widen access to higher education, social mobility is flatlining or declining across wealthier countries.

In the UK and US, university is still the dominant route to higher earnings from less advantaged backgrounds.

Read more ⬇️
shorturl.at/eHto0

Reposted by Rachel Brooks

education.ox.ac.uk
Department of Education, University of Oxford @education.ox.ac.uk · 15d
💬 Lead author, @rachelbrooks.bsky.social, said: “While, for students from disadvantaged backgrounds, higher education does lead to improved outcomes relative to non-graduate peers, family background continues to exert significant influence."

The report was published by @suttontrust.bsky.social

Reposted by Rachel Brooks

education.ox.ac.uk
Department of Education, University of Oxford @education.ox.ac.uk · 15d
📣 New report: Despite efforts to widen access to higher education, social mobility is flatlining or declining across wealthier countries

Students whose parents did not attend university remain 45% less likely to reach the top earnings quintile than those with graduate parents.

➡️ bit.ly/4oE8YSK

Reposted by Rachel Brooks, Dave O’Brien, Dan Woodman

thesociologicalreview.org
The Sociological Review Foundation @thesociologicalreview.org · 16d
What happens when intensive forms of parenting extend into young adulthood?

@juliacook.bsky.social @drdanwoodman.bsky.social @rachelbrooks.bsky.social take a look at intergenerational support, independence and the risk of downward mobility.

#OpenAccess @journals.sagepub.com buff.ly/21dX1A0
Julia Cook, Dan Woodman & Rachel Brooks How does providing financial and practical support to young adult children impact upon their parents’ present-day lives and future plans? https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/00380261251390989 The Sociological Review #OnlineFirst

Reposted by Rachel Brooks

studentspolitics.bsky.social
Students and Politics @studentspolitics.bsky.social · Oct 23
We enjoyed talking about our Students and Politics project at the annual poster conference of Oxford’s Department of Education @education.ox.ac.uk yesterday!

Many thanks to Franziska Lessky for designing our poster!

@rachelbrooks.bsky.social @rilleraaper.bsky.social

Reposted by Rachel Brooks

education.ox.ac.uk
Department of Education, University of Oxford @education.ox.ac.uk · Oct 13
We’re proud to share our new Annual Report, showcasing the Department’s key activities and achievements from the past academic year💡

Discover highlights from our research, impact, and teaching, and explore our major new projects that are shaping the future of education.

Read report: bit.ly/479Fe8V

Reposted by Rachel Brooks

hetanshah.bsky.social
Hetan Shah @hetanshah.bsky.social · Sep 11
‘The author David Nicholls is rumoured to be working on a novel about a star-crossed couple who run into each other over the decades on the days Mandelson quits.’
Ouch from @roberthutton.co.uk
thecritic.co.uk/oh-mandy/
Oh Mandy … | Robert Hutton | The Critic Magazine
Some of us are old enough to remember where we were every time Peter Mandelson resigned. His departures from high office are like royal weddings: a chance to freeze a moment in our nation’s long story...
thecritic.co.uk

Reposted by Rachel Brooks

johannawaters.bsky.social
Johanna L. Waters @johannawaters.bsky.social · Sep 11
Forthcoming in Spring 2026:

@rachelbrooks.bsky.social
@brisunipress.bsky.social
@uclgeography.bsky.social

#internationalstudentmobilities

Reposted by Rachel Brooks, Dave O’Brien

education.ox.ac.uk
Department of Education, University of Oxford @education.ox.ac.uk · Sep 4
We’re delighted to announce that Professor @rachelbrooks.bsky.social (Professor of Higher Education) has been appointed to the Education sub-panel of the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2029 @ref2029.bsky.social.

Read more: bit.ly/3JESI4q

Reposted by Will Jennings, Rachel Brooks, Joni Lovenduski

hetanshah.bsky.social
Hetan Shah @hetanshah.bsky.social · Aug 22
Britain is ‘increasingly rudderless’ as its statistical system is unable to answer core questions - powerful column by @jburnmurdoch.ft.com which shows the nation’s data problems can open the door for populist claims
on.ft.com/4mpFAyh
Britain’s statistics scandal means it cannot answer its most pressing questions
More and more of the numbers needed to guide policy are going dark
on.ft.com

Reposted by Stephen P. Jenkins, Rachel Brooks, Dave O’Brien , and 7 more

cmonden.bsky.social
Christiaan Monden @cmonden.bsky.social · Aug 20
Job alert! Join us at @nuffieldcollege.bsky.social as a postdoctoral fellow to work on your own research for three years. #sociology
www.nuffield.ox.ac.uk

Reposted by Rachel Brooks, Les Back

britsoci.bsky.social
British Sociological Association @britsoci.bsky.social · Aug 19
Abstract submissions are now invited for the BSA’s 75th anniversary conference, 8-10 April 2026, University of Edinburgh. Take part in ‘75 Years of Sociology’ – a fixture in the sociological calendar unlike any other. Submission deadline: 3 October 2025 tinyurl.com/23sjk4nh #sociology
Abstract submissions are now invited for the BSA’s 75th anniversary conference, 8-10 April 2026, University of Edinburgh. Take part in ‘75 Years of Sociology’ – a fixture in the sociological calendar unlike any other. Submission deadline: 3 October 2025 tinyurl.com/23sjk4nh #sociology

Reposted by Mel Bartley, Rachel Brooks, Dave O’Brien , and 3 more

pengzell.bsky.social
Per Engzell @pengzell.bsky.social · Aug 18
Sociology at Nuffield College invites applications for academic visitors during the 2026-27 academic year www.nuffield.ox.ac.uk/our-research...
Sociology Visitorships - Nuffield College Oxford University
The Nuffield College Sociology Group invites applications for a Visitorship at the College during the 2026-27 academic year (between early October 2026 and late June 2027).
www.nuffield.ox.ac.uk

Reposted by Dani Rodrik, Jonathan Portes, Cas Mudde , and 46 more

chadbourn.bsky.social
Mark Chadbourn @chadbourn.bsky.social · Aug 10
BBC International Editor Jeremy Bowen has confirmed that the entire Al Jazeera team in Gaza City has been killed.

Reposted by Diane Coyle, Rachel Brooks, Dave O’Brien , and 2 more

hetanshah.bsky.social
Hetan Shah @hetanshah.bsky.social · Aug 10
‘Much of what universities spend a great deal of time discussing - such as global strategy, impact & innovation, development & philanthropy - even research… [has] very little effect on the bottom line.’
Useful primer on HE finance by @profserious.bsky.social
profserious.substack.com/p/understand...
Understanding University Finances
... a very short guide
profserious.substack.com

Reposted by Jonathan Portes, John Drury, Rachel Brooks

nasarmeer.bsky.social
@nasarmeer.bsky.social @nasarmeer.bsky.social · Jul 27
More than 40 students currently trapped in Gaza with full scholarships to UK Universities are asking for a safe route to come and study. Please sign and share ⬇️ docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Open letter: Request for biometric deferral and safe evacuation of incoming Palestinian students and scholars from Gaza to UK Universities
More than 40 students currently trapped in Gaza with full scholarships to UK Universities are asking for a safe route to come and study. We, the academic community hoping to welcome these scholars, ca...
docs.google.com

Reposted by Rachel Brooks

veldaelliott.bsky.social
Velda Elliott @veldaelliott.bsky.social · May 12
Really exciting to have @iancushing.bsky.social delivering the public seminar at @education.ox.ac.uk tonight - closely related to his article that's just come out in print in @oxfordreved.bsky.social ! Huge turnout in the room and online!

Reposted by Rachel Brooks

mike-rat.bsky.social
Mike Ratcliffe @mike-rat.bsky.social · Jun 9
Excellent inaugural lecture tonight by @rachelbrooks.bsky.social on student mobility. There’s much to learn from Turing (as it likely disappears) including some possible unintended outcomes with the involvement of third party providers of ‘experiences’.
Professor Rachel Brookes explains third party providers in the provision of Turing scheme ‘experiences’

Reposted by Becky Francis, Rachel Brooks

hetanshah.bsky.social
Hetan Shah @hetanshah.bsky.social · Jul 17
A record number of Americans have applied to undergraduate courses at UK universities - a 14% rise from last year and the highest number since records began in 2006
on.ft.com/4kFC5Ct
More US students choosing UK universities after Trump attacks on higher education
Latest admissions data shows 14% rise in American applications for undergraduate courses
on.ft.com

Reposted by Tim Bale, Rachel Brooks, Maria Sobolewska

resolutionfoundation.org
Resolution Foundation @resolutionfoundation.org · Jul 15
People in their early twenties are now more likely to be out of work due to ill health than those in their early forties.

Read The good, the bad and the messy here 👉 buff.ly/0O2OHhy
Chart showing proportion of the working-age population who are economically inactive due to ill health, by single year of age: UK

Reposted by Rachel Brooks, Les Back

britsoci.bsky.social
British Sociological Association @britsoci.bsky.social · Jul 14
Take part in ‘75 Years of Sociology’ – a fixture in the sociological calendar unlike any other. Abstract submissions are invited for the BSA's 75th anniversary conference, 8-10 April 2026, University of Edinburgh. Submission deadline: 3 October 2025 tinyurl.com/23sjk4nh #sociology
Take part in ‘75 Years of Sociology’ – a fixture in the sociological calendar unlike any other. Abstract submissions are invited for the BSA's 75th anniversary conference, 8-10 April 2026, University of Edinburgh, submission deadline: 3 October 2025 https://tinyurl.com/23sjk4nh #sociology

rachelbrooks.bsky.social
Rachel Brooks @rachelbrooks.bsky.social · Jul 10
Thanks - will look forward to reading!

rachelbrooks.bsky.social
Rachel Brooks @rachelbrooks.bsky.social · Jul 10
Sorry you didn’t get a chance to present your paper in this session! Would like to have heard it 😊 Is it published anywhere?

Reposted by Rachel Brooks

jilltimms.bsky.social
Jill Timms @jilltimms.bsky.social · Jul 8
What stops #wideningparticipation students taking or succeeding in sandwich 🥪courses? Great to discuss at #isaforum25 learning from international colleagues at the RC04 with @rachelbrooks.bsky.social.
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
@isa-sociology.org @surreylib.bsky.social @education.ox.ac.uk

Reposted by Rachel Brooks

reubenroseredwood.bsky.social
Reuben Rose-Redwood @reubenroseredwood.bsky.social · Jul 3
Just published an article in The Conversation on international student activism & the politics of higher ed that follows up on the book we published last year in light of the current targeting of international students in the US theconversation.com/internationa... @uvicsocialsciences.bsky.social
International student activism histories show how education can foster democracy
The very presence of international students on university campuses is a political matter that depends on a measure of good will between the host and home countries.
theconversation.com

Reposted by Rachel Brooks

education.ox.ac.uk
Department of Education, University of Oxford @education.ox.ac.uk · Jun 30
Congratulations to Professor @rachelbrooks.bsky.social on being awarded a prestigious Churchill Fellowship 🎉

The award will enable her to travel to Australia and the US to research the ways in which access to international student mobility can be made more equitable 🌍

Read more ➡️ bit.ly/4lyn1Y5

Reposted by Rachel Brooks

bsamcf.bsky.social
BSA Mid-Career Forum @bsamcf.bsky.social · Jun 25
We’re a new BSA Forum supporting sociologists navigating the mid-career stage. Co-convened by @katyjmc.bsky.social and @drfloraposte.bsky.social we’re building a space for solidarity, strategy, and shared stories. For more: www.britsoc.co.uk/groups/speci... and keep watch for an online Launch Event.
Mid-Career Forum
www.britsoc.co.uk

Reposted by Rachel Brooks

theifs.bsky.social
The Institute for Fiscal Studies @theifs.bsky.social · Jun 23
NEW: 6 in 10 top achievers outside of London leave their home town by their early 30s.

Read @xiaoweixu.bsky.social's new report on geographical inequalities in the UK, funded by ADR UK: ifs.org.uk/publications...

Reposted by Rachel Brooks, Carolyn Jackson

edreslancaster.bsky.social
Educational Research@Lancaster Uni @edreslancaster.bsky.social · Jun 12
Many congratulations to Leila Pinto-Campillo who successfully defended her thesis on 5/6. She completed a #PhDinHEREE and was supervised by @carolynjackson.bsky.social. Many thanks to the Examiners Malcolm Tight and @rachelbrooks.bsky.social. @centreforhere.bsky.social